The GPL can cause confusion, so here goes. On Fri, 25 Feb 2005, Jim Cheetham wrote:
> The cost of these CDs can be no more than the "reasonable costs" of > producing them. > As guaranteed by the GPL :-) > > http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html > "You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy" This refers to source section 1. The distribution of executables (section 3) refers back to sections 1 & 2. Section 2 about modifications and this section does not mention a fee. There is _no_ limitation on the fee that can be charged in section 1. > "for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source > distribution" This refers to the obligation to make source code available if the executable has been provided. Section 3b. There _is_ a limitation on the fee in this case. >From the preamble of the GPL; "...the GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software--to make sure the software is free for all its users." The use of "free" in this passage is in the sense of libre, liberated. It is not about price. Section 3b ensures that there can be no restriction to source code availability based on an inflated price. Section 1 makes it clear that vendor charges a fee and does not sell the software. The software remains the property of the copyright holder so it is not the vendors to sell. However, the GPL creates one of the few examples of a free market unrestricted by copyright and patents, and with a very low cost barrier for those wanting to become a FLOSS software vendor. This drives down the costs to the end user. Friends burning discs for friends is another way of ensuring costs are held down. Free (libre) is not free (gratis), but Free Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) creates a mechanism for providing very cheap software to the end user. Phil. -- Philip Charles; 39a Paterson Street, Abbotsford, Dunedin, New Zealand +64 3 488 2818 Fax +64 3 488 2875 Mobile 025 267 9420 [EMAIL PROTECTED] - preferred. [EMAIL PROTECTED] I sell GNU/Linux & GNU/Hurd CDs & DVDs. See http://www.copyleft.co.nz
